February Highlights

Boy Scout Sunday

On Sunday, February 6th we welcomed scouts and leaders from Troup 662. We are happy to be their sponsoring organization, and we thank them for coming and helping to lead worship and take part our worship service.

Agape Free Community Meal

Our free community meal continued in February as take out. We look forward to the time when we can have not only a meal but also enjoy the fellowship we did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Until then, we are grateful to those participating in the take out meal.

Ash Wednesday

We marked the beginning of Lent on February 17th with our Ash Wednesday service at Friedens, Hegins. The service included Imposition of Ashes and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Pastor Swanson presided and Pastor Diefenderfer preached the sermon.

Midweek Lenten Service

Our first Midweek Lenten Service was held Wednesday, February 24th. The Holden Evening Prayer service was one half hour from 7:30 to 8:00 PM and included a psalm, reading from Corinthians and a hymn with a beautiful liturgy wrapped around. It was a very peaceful half hour in the midst of a world and life that isn’t.

Tending the Altar

On Thursday, February 25th Pastor Diefenderfer led an explanation on setting the table for communion and the names and places for everything. He began with an explanation of how there came to be sacred altars, sacred items, and sacred spaces for worship. The terms fair linen, corporal, pall board, burse, purificators, veil, frontal parament, pulpit and lectern antipendiums were explained. So here is how we set the table for communion: begin in the middle, lay out corporal, chalice / glass tray next, purificator over chalice, paten on top / paten with purificator and wafers along side / glass dish along side, pall board over paten, veil, burse on top of veil. Two words that come to mind as we learned the meaning and significance of these items and how they relate to Christ’s death and resurrection are reverence and respect. Thank you, Pastor Diefenderfer!